Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Rory Martin, owner and CEO of Rory Martin, Inc., located in Seattle, WA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
For over 25 years, my team and I have been building websites and marketing web brands that grow and thrive. Our strategic engagements in branding, website design, search engine optimization, and social campaigns drive amazing outcomes and awareness. We drive more leads and revenue through marketing.
Tell us about yourself
I started coding in 1996. It was the wild wild west of the internet with dial-up modems and wait times for browsers to refresh. I was immediately hooked the first time I published my first web page. Soon after a couple of web certifications and a few websites under my belt, I began to have more work than I could handle, so I built a company around the RoryMartin.com brand. Then when the towers came down in 2001, I decided to double down on e-commerce and web platform integration. In 2008 during the economic crisis, I knew it was again time to dive deeper into all aspects of digital marketing. I built out a full SEO / SEM team as well as a dedicated social media marketing team. Now over 25 years later, I enjoy empowering my team with whatever they need to provide the best tactical service possible for our clients. I'm motivated by all the great business leaders I get to work with day in and day out, making their brands thrive.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment was letting go of the day-to-day operations of coding and designing. After 10+ years handling most of the tactical work, I started letting go of the reigns, so I could focus on what I do best - building and maintaining relationships with our customers and staff.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
I love being a business owner. I take pride in making sure my staff is doing what they want to do and empowering them to strive for skillset optimization and focus. It's difficult for me to have any complaints after all these years because I have project managers that run the company like a well-oiled machine. I'd say the most difficult thing is to let go of a great resource. However, I enjoy helping them move on and watching them follow their heart to the next chapter in their journey. I love my team and enjoy making them happy.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Start "doing things" now. Don't wait. Fail many times but don't wait to know you're not going to fail because that is very unlikely. Most of what I learned was from making small mistakes and correcting them as I went.
- Do what you love. In the beginning, you'll have to wear "all the hats," but always optimize your time spent on the things you know you love doing. You can always hire someone to do the things you don't like to do once you have enough revenue.
- Treat your staff like they're your customer. They really are your first customer. They're your internal customer, and if they are happy - your clients will be happy.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://rorymartin.com/
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3jtQhVn
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rorymartin
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorymartin/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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